Comb Wash — Cedar Mesa BLM Dispersed Camping

Comb Wash runs along the base of Comb Ridge, the 100-mile sandstone fold that cuts southeast Utah in half. The BLM lets you camp in the pullouts and flats beside the dirt road. There are no numbered sites, no hosts and no water. Expect a dirt pad, juniper and sage, and a big red wall catching the last light. Bring everything you need and pack out all trash, human waste included. It’s a good staging spot for Cedar Mesa day hikes and the Valley of the Gods loop.

The road is graded dirt and usually fine in dry weather. When the wash floods or the clay gets wet, it turns to grease, so check forecasts. Spring and fall are the sweet spot. Summer is hot and shadeless. Fire rules change with the season, so check with the BLM Monticello or Bluff office before you strike a match. Some canyons on Cedar Mesa need permits for overnight backpacking, so check that before you plan hikes. Verify road conditions ahead. Have a dirty day.

Free camp under Comb Ridge's red wall.